Creel for textile machines

ABSTRACT

A creel is provided with two insert pegs that are mounted on a retainer secured to a machine frame that is pivotable between a lower loading station and an upper loading position. The creel also includes a yarn guide element with a longitudinal opening whose length substantially corresponds to the vertical spacing between the axes of the insert pegs such that the ends of the longitudinal opening can be brought into a position lying substantially on the extension of the insert peg axes. Two elongate guide organs are mounted on the side of the yarn guide element and each has a yarn eye opening. The creel further includes a yarn retaining organ located between the insert pegs at a lateral spacing from the plane defined by the insert peg axes and whose retaining force lies under the withdrawal force by which the yarn is drawn off a feed package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a creel with at least two insert pegs arranged one above the other that are mounted on a retainer secured to a machine frame that is pivotable between a lower loading station and an upper loading position. A creel of this type is described, for example, in FR-A-2 794 136.

On creels of this type, fully wound feed packages are inserted on respective insert pegs, the feed packages having a yarn reserve so that, after the running out of yarn from the first package, the drawing of yarn from the second package occurs, whereby the yarn end of a first package is connected with the beginning portion of the yarn of a second package.

A package holder described in DE-AS 1 145 527 is so conceived that, upon rewinding of yarn after the run out of yarn of an unwinding package, an operational stoppage is to be avoided as a consequence of the run out process being configured to be continuous, in that the yarn end of the unwinding package is connected with the beginning portion of the yarn of a reserve package. A package holder is provided for this purpose having several, for example two, insert pegs, the package holder being rotatable about an axis that is centrally located between the two insert pegs.

In addition to the relatively expensive control mechanism associated therewith, this known package holder suffers from the significant disadvantage that the insert pegs must be mounted on the package holder in a linkage manner to ensure that the axes of the insert pegs always point toward a predetermined point that is almost exactly on a yarn guide eye that commonly serves the pair of packages inserted onto the insert pegs.

A creel disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,180,284 comprises several insert pegs arranged adjacent one another and above one another for receiving unwinding packages disposed thereon, whereby respective pairs of packages are arranged relative to one another such that the yarn end of a unwinding package is connected with the beginning portion of the yarn of a second unwinding package that serves as a reserve package. The individual insert pegs are secured on a retainer with principally upwardly oriented axes, whereby, in particular, the insertion of feed or, respectively, unwinding, packages on the insert pegs is made more difficult, the inserts pegs being pivotable about a horizontal axis out of a substantially vertical position into a position oriented upwardly obliquely relative to the front side of the machine in order to facilitate the exchange of packages that have been fully unwound for new reserve packages. For each pair of insert pegs supporting a respective pair of packages that are arranged together as a run out unit, there are provided, for the systematic drawing off of yarn, yarn guide eyes that are, on the one hand, above the insert pegs, and, on the other hand, below the insert pegs. With regard to the set up for this known creel, which is not a state of the art reference for the present invention, at least two insert pegs arranged one over another for mutually associated unwinding packages are mounted on a holder secured to the machine frame, the holder being pivotable between a lower loading station and an upper operating position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention offers a solution to the challenge of providing a creel that is configured such that the creel, relative to the creel described in DE-AS 1 145 527, comprises a simplified construction in order to thereby ensure, after the complete unwinding of one unwinding package, the reliable drawing out of yarn from a second unwinding package forming a reserve package.

In order to implement the solution to this challenge, the creel is characterized via:

-   -   a) insert pegs having substantially horizontal axes extending         parallel to one another;     -   b) a yarn guide element with a longitudinal opening whose length         substantially corresponds to the vertical spacing between the         axes of the insert pegs such that the ends of the longitudinal         opening can be brought into a position lying substantially on         the extension of the insert peg axes     -   c) two elongate guide organs are mounted on the side of the yarn         guide element facing the insert pegs in the region of the ends         of the longitudinal opening laterally next to the longitudinal         openings on the yarn guide element and have, on their free ends,         respectively, a yarn eye opening laterally toward the         longitudinal opening that is so arranged that the yarn guide eye         is substantially outside of the maximum package diameter of one         of the packages to be inserted on the insert pegs, and     -   d) a yarn retaining organ that is located substantially between         the insert pegs at a lateral spacing from the plane defined by         the axes of the insert pegs.

In order that a creel of this type can fully achieve its effectiveness, the operation is to proceed as follows after the insertion onto insert pegs of two fully wound feed packages after the coupling of the corresponding yarn ends:

-   -   upon the drawing out of a yarn from the upper feed package, the         yarn end in the region of the yarn reserve is, in a conventional         manner, connected with the free beginning portion of the yarn of         the fully wound lower feed package via, for example, splicing or         knotting, whereby attention is to be paid that the yarn drawn         from the upper feed package in an over the top manner travels         above the yarn guide organ associated with this feed package         into the longitudinal opening of the yarn guide element.     -   the yarn section located between the pair of packages is firmly         clamped by means of the yarn retaining organ;     -   the yarn section is then laid into the yarn eye from above and         is guided downwardly and is, from the downward position, trained         around the lower yarn eye.

In this manner, it is ensured that, after the complete running out of the upper feed package and after the release via the yarn retaining organ, a friction-free drawing out of the yarn from the lower feed package follows, whereby the yarn then being drawn from the lower feed package in an over the top manner travels underneath the yarn guide element associated with the lower package into the longitudinal opening.

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a textile machine provided on both sides along the machine longitudinal direction with work stations, the textile machine being, for example, a cabling machine on whose upper side are pivotably mounted creels 3, 3′ on respective oppositely disposed machine sides;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of respective individual elements of the yarn transition device, as well as the yarn travel during the transition of the yarn drawing out from a feed package to a second feed package;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of respective individual elements of the yarn transition device, as well as the yarn travel during the transition of the yarn drawing out from a feed package to a second feed package; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of respective individual elements of the yarn transition device, as well as the yarn travel during the transition of the yarn drawing out from a feed package to a second feed package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In connection with the textile machine 1 that is only schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the textile machine is, for example, a cabling machine having cable spindles extending on both sides thereof along the machine longitudinal direction. The one creel 3 associated with an individual cable spindle 2 is pivotally mounted on the upper side of the machine frame 5 by means, for example, of a four piece linkage 4. The individual creel 3 can also be configured in a conventional manner as a double creel such that each creel is provided with four feed packages Sp or, respectively, can be loaded with such feed packages, so that each respective pair of neighboring cable spindles of the cabling machine can be served by an individual package creel. In connection with the feed package Sp, such packages are the so-called simple-feed packages for the outer yarn of the cabling process.

The creel 3 comprises a support plate 6 on which, on each side thereof, there is respectively mounted a retaining plate 7 extending substantially vertically, the retaining plate supporting two vertically oriented insert pegs 8 that are disposed one above the other and one in front of the other and are operable for the insertion thereon of feed packages Sp. The insert pegs 8 are disposed at an angle relative to the horizon in the range of 5-10° toward the front in order to ensure a secure seating of the inserted feed packages Sp.

A forwardly oriented arm 9 is secured to the support plate 7, the arm supporting a yarn change of direction eye 10 operable to change the direction of the yarn F1 drawn off the individual feed package Sp toward the lower machine region—that is, in the direction toward the cable spindle 2. This yarn F1 is, in correspondence with the typical cabling process, united in the region of the yarn guide eye 11 with the yarn F2 that is drawn in an over the top manner off the feed package located within the cable spindle 2. A yarn delivery roller 12 as well as a yarn winding assembly 13 are disposed outside of the cable spindle in a conventional manner.

A plate forming a yarn guide element 21 is secured on the arm 9, the plate being provided with a longitudinal opening or slot 21.1 whose length substantially corresponds to the vertical spacing between the axes of the insert pegs 8. The plate 21 is so positioned that the ends of the longitudinal opening are located in the extensions of the axes of the insert pegs 8. The plate 21 supports two elongate guide organs 22, 23 that are secured on the side of the plate 21 facing the insert pegs 8 in the region of the ends of the longitudinal opening laterally adjacent the longitudinal opening 21.1 and that are so oriented that they traverse the longitudinal opening. The individual guide organs 22, 23 are substantially comprised of a wire having one of its ends secured to the plate 21 and having, on its free end, a hook 22.1 or, respectively, 23.1, that forms a yarn eye opening laterally in the direction toward the longitudinal opening 21.1. Each guide organ 22 or, respectively, 23, has a length such that the yarn eye configured by the respective hook 22.1 or 23.1 is substantially outside of the maximum package diameter of the package Sp to be inserted onto the insert peg. The guide organs 22 or, respectively, 23, are secured shortly before the ends of the longitudinal opening 21.1 on the plate 21 such that these guide organs 22, 23, together with the ends of the longitudinal opening 21.1, delimit the yarn draw off opening lying in the extension of the axes of the insert pegs.

A separator surface 25 is secured on the retaining plate 7 between the insert pegs 8. A yarn retaining organ 24 is secured on the separator surface 25 at a lateral spacing from the plane defined by the axes of the insert pegs 8, the yarn retaining organ preferably being configured as a yarn clamp and comprising at least one clamp tongue 24.2 that is resiliently biased against a support organ 24.1. The retaining force of the yarn retaining organ 24 is adjusted such that it lies slightly under the withdrawal force by which the yarn F is drawn off the feed package Sp such that a yarn retained by this yarn retaining organ 24 is released if a withdrawal force corresponding to the drawing off tension of the yarn F is exerted on the yarn.

Reference is had to FIGS. 2-4 for the following description of the operational manner of the inventive device during the transition of the yarn withdrawal from an upper feed package to a lower feed package and, consequently, in an analogous manner, the transition of the yarn withdrawal from a lower feed package to an upper feed package.

FIG. 2 shows an operational condition in which a yarn F is drawn off an upper feed package Sp shortly before this package has been completely unwound. The yarn F drawn from the package Sp in an over the top manner is consequently drawn through the opening, located in the region of the upper end of the longitudinal opening 21.1, that is bounded by the yarn guide organ 23. The yarn end coming from the upper package is connected with the beginning portion of the yarn Fn running out of the lower, fully wound package. The yarn section located between the pair of packages is disposed in the yarn retaining organ 24 and travels upwardly therefrom to be trained around the hook 23.1 and is subsequently trained around the lower hook 22.1. After the upper package has been completely fully unwound, the yarn of the package that is still within the upper yarn guide opening is initially drawn out of the yarn retaining organ 24 and subsequently slid out of the hook 23.1 such that it eventually can glide along the lower yarn guide organ 22 in the direction toward the yarn guide opening bounded from above by this yarn guide organ associated therewith in the region of the lower end of the longitudinal opening 21.1, until the operational position shown in FIG. 3 is reached, and the yarn is then drawn off again from the lower package in an over the top manner.

It is important that the hooks 22.1 or, respectively, 23.1, forming the yarn eyes are open in the direction toward the plate 21 and away from the yarn retaining organ 24.

In connection with a yarn exchange or, respectively, a yarn transition, from a lower package to an upper package, a process is then performed, in accordance with FIG. 4, by which the yarn reserve of the lower package is connected, in an analogous manner as described with respect to FIG. 2, with the beginning portion of the yarn of the upper, fully wound package. The yarn section located between the pair of packages is laid into the yarn retaining organ 24 and is then trained around the hook 22.1 from outside and downwardly toward the inside and above and, then, trained into the upper hook 23.1 from below and inwardly toward the top and outwardly.

In order to exchange a fully wound spool for a completely unwound package during a yarn withdrawal process, the insert pegs are preferably pivotable in a lateral direction.

The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 103 48 279.2 filed Oct. 17, 2003.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A creel with at least two insert pegs arranged one above the other that are mounted on a retainer secured to a machine frame that is pivotable between a lower loading station and an upper loading position, the creel comprising: (a) insert pegs having substantially horizontal axes extending parallel to one another; (b) a yarn guide element with a pair of vertically spaced longitudinal openings each of whose length substantially corresponds to the vertical spacing between the axes of the insert pegs such that the ends of the longitudinal opening can be brought into a position lying substantially on the extension of the insert peg axes; (c) a pair of elongate guide organs mounted on the side of the yarn guide element facing the insert pegs in the region of the ends of the longitudinal opening laterally next to the longitudinal openings on the yarn guide element and each elongate guide organ having, on its free end, a yarn eye opening laterally toward the longitudinal opening that is so arranged that the yarn guide eye is substantially outside of the maximum package diameter of a package to be inserted on the insert pegs; and (d) a yarn retaining organ located substantially between the insert pegs at a lateral spacing from the plane defined by the axes of the insert pegs and whose retaining force lies under the withdrawal force by which the yarn is drawn off the respective feed package.
 2. A creel according to claim 1, wherein each guide organ comprises a wire having one of its ends secured to the plate, whose free end is bent into a hook that forms a yarn eye opening laterally in the direction toward the longitudinal opening.
 3. A creel according to claim 1, wherein the yarn retaining organ is disposed on a plane defined by the back ends of the insert pegs and extending substantially vertically to the axes of the insert pegs.
 4. A creel according to claim 3, wherein the yarn retaining organ is configured as a yarn clamp.
 5. A creel according to claim 4, wherein the yarn retaining organ comprises at least one clamp tongue that is resiliently biased against a support organ.
 6. A creel according to claim 1, and further comprising a separator surface disposed between the insert pegs.
 7. A creel according to claim 6, wherein the yarn retaining organ is mounted on the separator surface.
 8. A creel according to claim 1, wherein the insert pegs are disposed obliquely at an angle relative to the horizon in the range of 5-10°.
 9. A creel according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element supporting the insert pegs is adjustably positionable relative to the yarn guide element having the longitudinal opening.
 10. A creel according to claim 1, wherein the insert pegs are pivotally mounted. 